Method of making shoes for automobile and other vehicle tires.



R. ROWLEY & J. J. GOOMBER.

METHOD OF MAKING SHOES POE AUTOMOBILE AND OTHER VEHICLE TIRES.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 4. 1909.

Patented June 21, 1910.

51 Wow vibes.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT RQ'WLEY, OF NEW YGRK, N. Y., AND JAMES J. COGMBEE, Ol JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNGBS, BY IVIESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO RUBBER COMPANY OF AMIERICA,

A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

METHOD OF MAKING SHOES FOE AUTQMIOBI'LE AND OTHER VEHICLE TIRES.

Application filed August 4, 1909.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J 11116 21, 1910.

Serial No. 511,188.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, lionnn'r RowLnY, a citizen of the llnited States, residing at Xew York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, and James J. Coonmm, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of blew Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Making Shoes for Automobile and other Vehicle Tires, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a method of malting shoes for automobiles and other vehicle tires, including both mechanically fastened" shoes and clencher grooved shoes.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, illustrating the principle of our invention and the best mode now known to us of applying that principle, Figure l is a crosssectional elevation, at line 1-1 of Fig. 2, and shows the shoe in process and the devices used in the practice of the present method. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, on a reduced scale, of what is shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is the socalled shoe carcass, composed of alternating layers of canvas and rubber, as usual and the exterior rubber covering 2, which, being thickened at the crown, there serves as the tread proper.

3 indicates the usual clenching beads at the free edges of the shoe, 4: indicating the heel and 5 the toe of each bead. The opposite lateral, annular clenching grooves, one above the heel of each bead, are indicated by 6, and the usual annular reinforcements of rubber, mounted annularly in the beads, are indicated by 7. The carcass and its rubber tread constitute the shoe.

In practicing our invention, the carcass is mounted on an annular mandrel 8, the under surfaces of the beads resting noncompressively on the annular metal beadsupports 9.

10, 10 are annular wrapping-stretching and compression plates, and 11 and 12 are a bolt and nut for lateral compression of the plates 10. The mandrel, as shown, has an inwardly projecting, annular rib 13 continuously around its inner periphery, but this rib is not essential; and the bead-supports are mounted on each side of it, the

compressionplates being exterior to the bead-supports, and having at their upper inner margins continuous, annular, inwardly projecting lugs 1ft of a contouradapted to fit and fill the lateral clenching grooves of the shoe. The wrapping, of duck or other flexible fabric, is indicated by 15, and is in practice, as heretofore, wrapped spirally while in a dampened condition.

In carrying out our process, the wrapping extends entirely around. the tread and its side walls, and also around the bead-supports (considering the tread and the beadsupport-s cross-sectionally,) and extends annularly for the entire circumference of the assembled shoe. mandrel and bead-supports. The only exterior portions of the shoe not in contact with the wrapping, (usually of duck.) are the inner, peripheral surfaces of the beads. The wrapping is drawn taut while being put in place, compelling the shoe to conform to the mandrel and also to the bead-supports, the wrapping extending across the mouths of the clenchergrooves and being self-held in place at the inner periphery of the bead supports as well as over the outer sides thereof and the exposed por tion of the shoe.

.Vhen the parts are assembled as thus described, the lateral compression-plates are adjusted and squeezed together, their lugs engaging the wrapping and drawing ittightly, not only over the crown and sides of the rubber covering, but also inwardly and downwardly upon the continuous walls of the clencher grooves and the heels of the beads. During this movement, the wrapper, in consequence of its being wound completely around the exposed tread and beadsupports, resists the compression and consequently strains the elastic portions of the tread under the strong action of the compression-plates.

As the shoe is wrapped from bead to head, no metal comes in contact with the rubber of the tread-covering or the side portions thereof exteriorly. The so wrapped shoe and mechanical parts are now put into the vulcanizing chamber and subjected to one heat, whereby the rubber is suitably vulcanized by the one heat process, and the shoe is made ready for use by subsequent removal of the wrapping and detachment from the mechanical parts described. Heretofore,

shoes of this class have been made by two well known different methods. By one method, the carcass (without the exterior rubber tread,) is wholly inclosed in an iron mold and then semi-cured by heating the molds, from which it is removed and exteriorly buffed or roughened to fit it for assemblage' with the exterior tread-covering. After bufling and assemblage, the parts are next wrapped, and together subjected to vulcanization. During the semi-curing, the shoes are liable to sponging and blistering from vaporization of contained moisture, as is well known. Moreover, as is also well known, the strength of canvas is impaired and the resiliency of rubber diminished by successive heatings; wherefore a one-heat method is far preferable to a method involving a plurality of heatings, and particularly where iron is in contact with or close proximity to either the canvas or the rubber.

By another old process, much in vogue, annular, flat-surfaced, lateral compressionplates of iron or steel are applied directly to the outer margins of the sides of the tread, between the clencher grooves and the crowns thereof, each plate extending breadthwise over nearly half of the shoe side. These plates are compressed together, forming flat, annular surfaces on the sides of the shoe concentric with the clencher grooves, and an annular continuous shoulder at the line of the upper inner corner and edge of each plate, the shoulder being evident when the plates are removed. When these plates are squeezed together laterally, as the shoe is mounted on the annular mandrel, the upper inner corners of the plates that form the shoulders referred to squeeze the rubber inwardly, and therefore push it up outwardly. This frequently results in loosening the inner surfaces of the tread-covering from the opposed surfaces of the carcass, hence the process results in the production of an undue number of so-called seconds. In this old process, the wrapping goes around the shoe and the lateral compression-plates, which are in direct contact with the rubber sides thereof. In this condition, the shoe is given one heat; but in addition to the loosening up of the rubber in consequence of the inward flatwise squeeze of the compressionplates, the direct contact of the compressionplates with the rubber results very frequently in pits and other imperfections in the flat surfaces formed by the opposed flat surfaces of the compression-plates. A great deal of labor is expended in pricking and otherwise effaoing imperfections in tires formed by this process just described.

7e are aware of United States Letters- Patent No. 822,561; No. 901,006; No. 901,007; No. 858,046; No. 882,341 and No. 911,182, and disclaim all that is shown in them. In none of these patents are the carcass, its rubber covering and inner peripheral device for supporting the carcass and its covering in relation to the annular mandrel, wrapped so that compression applied to the sides of the wrapping at and near the clencher grooves draws or stretches the exterior rubber covering upon the carcass and holds it compressed there for the vulcanizing operation, as in accordance with our invention. We are also aware that in the manufacture of tire shoes of the type shown in Jefferys U. S. Patents No. 614,393 and No. 615,454 of 1898, the shoes were wrapped, wrong side out, on mandrels, and being so wrapped, were vulcanized by means of an open heat, that is, by live steam in direct contact with the rubber. e are also aware that in the process of making tires patented by Coles U. S. Patent No. 696,391 of 1902, the clamping margins of the shoe, after mounting the shoe on an annular mandrel or core, have been customarily clamped by and between side pressure rings (the core having an interior peripheral rib to limit the inward or clamping movement of the rings), and the shoe left exposed from about halfway up one side, over the tread or crown, to about half-way down the other side. The so assembled side pressure or clamping rings and shoe have then been exteriorly wrapped, and the vulcanization effected by the so-called open cure. The use of such side clamping rings has occasioned lateral shoulders extending around the opposite sides of the tire at about the line indicated in white, below the word Fisk in the out of the Cole patent tire shown on p. 51 of Pearsons Rubber Tires and All About Them, published at New York by the India Rubber Publishing (30., 1906; and these shoulders are objectionable because in their formation, while the rubber is unvulcanized, the rubber at the shoulder is pushed up and loosened in its relation to the duck of the carcass, as above explained. In this connection we note that our invention, while shown in connection with clencher tire shoes, is, in its broader aspect, applicable to shoes of other than so-called clencher construction. For example, if it were availed of in the production of socalled mechanically fastened tires, the benefits and advantages of our invention would be measurably obtained.

The advantages of our present process are that it results in a uniform product of firsts, saving pricking and like labor, because eliminating seconds. The shoes are neater in appearance because they do not present the smooth annular surfaces referred to. Only one heat is necessary, and less labor and quicker production result.

It will be observed that as the wrappingstretching and compression plates are squeezed together upon the wrapping lying across the clencher grooves and the heels of the beads, the wrapping will be forced inwardly and simultaneously pulled downwardly, so that the rubber covering 2 is stretched and compacted in place on the carcass, whereon it is held during the vulcanizing process by setting up the nuts 12 to their final position. During the inward or com pression movements of the plates 10, 10, the wrapping, which has already been drawn taut manually over and about the outer surfaces of the rubber covering and the beadsupports 9, 9, is drawn upon the rubber covering and into the walls of the clencher grooves with great force, whereby not only the rubber of the covering 2, but also, to a considerable extent, the rubber in the carcass, is compacted and held compacted dun ing vulcanization.

The bead-supports 9 have no clamping or compression function either in relation to the shoe edges or to the mandrel 8. The simply form, in connection with the mandrel, spaces in which the shoe edges, mar gins or beads are non-compressively held for the wrapping operation; into which they .are pressed by the inward movements of the wrapping-stretching and compression plates 10; and by the walls of which the outer sur faces of the shoe margins are shaped, under action of the wrapping-stretching and compression plates 10, preliminary to vulcanization.

Tires made in accordance with our method are readily distinguishable from tires made by other methods, because our tires show the wrapping marks from bead to bead.

Referring, again, to that preferred form of apparatus herein illustrated and by use of which, among other forms, our new method may be practiced, it is noted: The outer peripheral surfaces of the bead-supports are shaped conformably to the opposed contour of the shoe beads (which, with the rest of the shoe, are relatively soft as compared with their condition after vulcanizatiom) and support and maintain the pre-shaped beads or marginal portions, in the shape initially given them and which they are to have after vulcanization, during the application of the wrapping compression-plates; the outer surfaces of the bead supports then holding the wrapping, which has a purchase at the inner periphery of the mandrel and bead-supports, out of deforming engagement with the bead heels. To this end, the outer surfaces of the bead-supports, in the form of apparatus shown, are substantially tangent to the bead heels, so that the wrapping, when strained inwardly into the clencher grooves and at the same time strained inwardly over the tread and sides of the shoe, cannot bend the bead heels outwardly and thereby deform the clencher grooves, or cause the annular rubber reinforcements 7 to be forced outwardly and wedge-wise between the adjacent duck plies is applied to the wrapping, and eliminates and so separate them. Our method is adapted to secure one quality of vulcanization (that due to the open cure,) from marginal portion to marginal portion of the shoe while the shoe is in a highly condensed and compacted state, from marginal portion to marginal portion. Our method is practicable in such wise as to prevent deformation of the soft, pro-shaped shoe when the tension that objectionable quality or degree of vulcanization which arises when the vulcanizing heat passes through metal to the shoe, except at the inner surfaces of the beads, where such quality of vulcanization is least objectionable. From bead heel to head heel, the shoe produced is of one quality of cure, and without the shoulders around its sides, that are a visible characteristic of many prior makes of tires, the shoulders involving a structural weakness due to the junction of an open-cured tread with shoe sides cured by the passage of heat through metal; and the shouders being due to the compression of the outer peripheral edges of side plates directly or indirectly contacting with the shoe sides.

The herein-described apparatus forms the subject-matter of our pending application Serial No. 511,189, of even date herewith.

\Vhat we claim is 1. The method of making vulcanized tire shoes having marginal beads and adjacent clencher grooves, consisting in securing and supporting the shoe, in form, interiorly upon 100 a mandrel, and, eXteriorly, between the toe and heel of each bead, upon bead-supports, leaving the tread, sides, grooves and head heels exposed; in compressively wrapping a fibrous binder tubularly about and circumferentially around the exposed tread, side and heel surfaces of the shoe, across the mouths of the clencher grooves, and the exposed walls of the bead supports to hold the shoe, the mandrel and the bead supports in place and to hold the binder across the mouths of the clencher grooves; in compressively straining the binder over the tread and side walls of the shoe and pressing it into and upon the walls of the clencher 5 grooves; and in subjecting the shoe so supported, bound and compressed to vulcanizing heat.

2. The method of making vulcanized tire shoes having marginal beads and adjacent 12o clencher grooves, consisting in mounting upon the outer wall of a carcass, in form,

a rubber covering extending, in contact with the carcass, from toe to toe; in mounting the so assembled carcass and rubber covering upon an interior mandrel and exteriorly upon bead supports, leaving the heel, groove, sides and tread portion of the rubber covering exposed; in compressively wrapping a fibrous binder tubularly and circumferen- 13 tially around and in contact with the exposed portion of the rubber covering from heel to heel of the shoe and across the mouths of the clencher grooves also inclosing the bead supports to hold the shoe, the mandrel and the bead supports together and to hold the binder across the mouths of said grooves; in compressively straining the binder over the tread and sides of the rubber coverin and pressing it into and upon the walls 0 the grooves; and in subjecting the shoe so supported, bound and compressed to vulcanizing heat.

3. The method of making vulcanized tire shoes consisting in mechanically holding a shoe non-compressively by its marginal portions that are adapted for use in holding the shoe on a rim, leaving all the shoe thereoutward exposed; in wrapping the shoe and the holding means with a fibrous wrapper tubularly and circumferentially, in direct opposition to the exposed portion of the shoe, from marginal portion to marginal portion thereof, and in inclosing contact with the holding means; in compressively tightening said wrapper over the holding means and simultaneously over the exposed tread and sides of the shoe to strain its rubber portions uniformly and inwardly toward the margins; and in subjecting the so wrapped and inwardly strained shoe to open cure vulcanization.

4. The method of making vulcanized tire shoes consisting in supporting a pre-shaped, unvulcanized shoe around its circumference, sides and marginal portions, on a rigid form, shaped to maintain the shaped marginal portions of the shoes; with the outer wall of the shoe exposed from marginal portion to marginal portion; in tubularly and circumferentially wrapping the rigid form and the exposed portion of the shoe with a fibrous binder in direct contact with the exposed portion of the shoe from marginal portion to marginal portion thereof; in straining the binder on a purchase and thereby simultaneously condensing the exposed portion of the shoe from marginal portion to marginal portion thereof; and in subjecting the so assembled shoe and form to vulcanizing heat for curing the shoe while in its so condensed state.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto aflixed our respective signatures, in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT ROWLEY. JAMES J. COOMBER. lVitnesses:

E. S. BEACH, F. E. NARES. 

